Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
-Gaza
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Secretary-General
-Sudan
-South Sudan
-Haiti
-Libya
-Peacekeeping
-Cyprus
-ECOSOC
-Financial Contributions
GAZA
The Secretary-General is on an official visit to Oman, and he has authorized me to say the following statement.
The Secretary-General is appalled by the escalation of military activity in and around Rafah by the Israeli Defense Forces.
These developments are further impeding humanitarian access and worsening an already dire situation. At the same time, Hamas goes on firing rockets indiscriminately. Civilians must be respected and protected at all times, in Rafah and elsewhere in Gaza. For people in Gaza, nowhere is safe now.
The Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release of all hostages. He calls for the Rafah crossing to be re-opened immediately and we must have unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza. That statement will be issued shortly.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, said in a social media post that parties must take all feasible precautions to spare civilians - including UN personnel and humanitarian workers - after one UN staff member was killed and another injured yesterday when their vehicle was hit en route to the European Hospital in Rafah.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports that families continue to flee Rafah in search of safety.
The agency estimates that as of yesterday, nearly 450,000 people had been displaced from Rafah in the last week. UNRWA says families are fleeing wherever they can - including to rubble and sand dunes.
As we have said repeatedly, all parties must respect international humanitarian law, at all times. This means that civilians must be protected, and their essential needs - including food, shelter, water and health - must be met, wherever they are in Gaza and whether they move or stay. 
The families being displaced from Rafah are arriving at sites that lack shelter, latrines, and water points. However, it is impossible to improve the situation at displacement sites if supplies can't enter Gaza - and if we lack the fuel to transport them inside Gaza to the families who need them.
Despite that, efforts are ongoing to deliver life-saving assistance wherever and whenever possible. Our humanitarian partners report that work continues to restore health services at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, which is expected to formally reopen in the coming days.
The hospital already started providing hemodialysis treatment last week to patients who can no longer be treated at An Najjar Hospital in Rafah - which has ceased providing services.
Meanwhile, our colleagues in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs say that, yesterday in the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked aid trucks bound for Gaza. The settlers offloaded and vandalized the vehicles at the Tarqumiya checkpoint and near the Barrier by Beit ‘Awwa. Several trucks were damaged.
Israel must protect against violence by Israeli settlers and ensure that all allegations of settler violence are investigated, and the perpetrators are prosecuted.
Full Highlights:
www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon...